“The Offering” Gouache Painting

Gouache plein air painting     10.5 inches x 6.5 inches    $250
Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

I took advantage of a lot of interesting little “vignettes” on Spannochia’s property in Tuscany. This one especially intrigued me. It reminded me of the many small altars we had seen in the Italian churches, on stone field walls and in villa gardens. The sunlit flowers against the dark alcove looked almost like a gift or offering given to consecrate this special place.

I painted this gouache on watercolor paper that I had underpainted with a warm pink color. The paint has a tendency to sink into the paper more than it does when I work on prepared mat board. Not a”good” or “bad” effect. Just a different one. I take note.

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This artwork was created with:
Paper: Saunders Waterford Watercolor Paper
Medium: Windsor Newton Gouache

Gouache Portrait Painting of Tully

Gouache portrait painting    12  inches x 9 inches   $350
Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

Much as I love landscape painting, I am always drawn to the figure as well. One night at Spannochia’s dinner, I had a few glasses of wine and got the nerve to ask one of the interns to pose for me. I thought she was drop-dead lovely, and reminded me of the beautiful local women, although she wasn’t Italian and actually came from Colorado. She kindly agreed, and I, along with another intern, painted her on a sunny afternoon outside of our casa. We had to work quickly because Tully had only one hour of free time available. I really needed a bit more time to refine the portrait properly, but what a joy it was to paint this beautiful woman in the light! Jill, of course, captured the scene in photographs.

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These artworks were created with:
Paper: Mat board
Medium: Windsor Newton Gouache

San Gimignano Arch Watercolor

Watercolor plein air cityscape painting     11 inches x 7 inches    $250
Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

Every other day, Jill and I would tear ourselves away from our adored medieval farm and go on mini-trips to the outlying Tuscan hill towns. Montelpulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, Siena…Ahhhh…we loved them all. I usually didn’t paint on those days. We just enjoyed these exquisite little gems and I took tons of reference photos for paintings later in my studio. One day we traveled north to San Gimignano, known as “the town of fine towers.” Its a cool, old, walled village with large towers built centuries ago by competing noble families. The views of the Tuscan countryside from this town are amazing. And it is VERY touristy. Lots of large tours, lines of bicyclists, student groups and shopping hoards. But its still worth visiting.

On that day, I had brought along my mini-watercolor set-up, just in case a painting moment presented itself. While Jill wandered the town, I parked myself on the steps of the ancient church in the main square. The arch under the tower at the end of the building had caught my eye and I wanted to try a quick sketch. Unbeknownst to me, my travel bud shot a few photos of me painting.

 

 

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This artwork was created with:
Paper: Saunders Waterford Watercolor Paper
Medium: DaVinci Watercolors

Upper Villa

Gouache plein air landscape painting    12  inches x 9 inches   $350
Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

We did have a few cloudy, cool days in Italy, just like you would anywhere. But they did not go to waste. I just put on an extra layer and set out walking around the estate, looking for an intriguing view to paint. My friend had pointed out this old villa down one of the country lanes on the property. I loved the way the rushing clouds would periodically light the new grapevines. They looked almost electric next to the old farm buildings. I tried to capture the feeling of some areas in light and others in shadow…fleeting time, centuries roll past…

When the sun came out a bit later, I just turned my easel around and painted the little dirt road behind me…

 

Gouache plein air landscape painting    12  inches x 9 inches   $350
Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

 

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These artworks were created with:
Paper: Mat board
Medium: Windsor Newton Gouache

Secret Garden Gouache Painting

Gouache plein air landscape painting    12  inches x 9 inches   $350
Please contact me if you are interested in this or similar artwork.

Off to the side of the entrance to Spannochia in Italy, there is a secluded, wooded area called the “Secret Garden.” Silly me. I was so infatuated with the beauty of the place that I failed to ask why it was called that. I’m sure many ancient romances were carried on there, replete with fair Medieval maidens and dashing Florentine gents.

Regardless, I spent a quiet afternoon among thousands of buzzing bees painting this Tuscan scene and recreating my own mythical history of it in my head. I often say that the only time my mind doesn’t race is when I paint. I tend to be a bit of a workaholic and non-stop list maker. There is so little time, and so much to do. But when I’m layering paint or pastel on paper, everything slows down and there is a wee bit of room for whimsy…

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These artworks were created with:
Paper: Mat board
Medium: Windsor Newton Gouache